Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-09-16
CHAPTER VI.

Months followed without bringing much
change in the situation. IN spite of himself,
it happened that Julia and Henriette, his
wife, met frequently, at one house or the
other. Lucien was as far rs ever from re-
alizing the truth. and Henriette never sus
pected it, Every time Julia and Roger met
when they could not speak, her eyes suppli-
Gated him, but he remained inaexible.
Lucien's health remained very delicate, and
had it not been for few fortunate specula-
tons he made under the direction of broker
named Luversan he might have been in real
need.
The war lad been well nigh fatal also to
Rogers business, and it was with great diff
Guilty that he could meet his obligations and
keep his business going until the summer of
1872, when our story opens.
1t WINS just at this juncture and under these
circumstances that Larouette claimed tho
payment of the money which so distressed
Roger to pay.
When Larouette had come into possession
of his unclcs fortune one afternoon young
man of % years or observation-disclosures, dark
complexioncd, with wide shoulders-presented
himself at the lawyers house and asked to
see Mime. De Noirville. He was the broker
with whom Lucien had had relations in his
recent speculations. Julia knew him by sight,
having met him before in her husbands room.
And one day, while he was waiting to be re-
ceived by NJ. De Noirville, he stood with his
back turned as she entered the room. She
thought it was Roger Laroque who was
standing there, and sprang forward, saying;
"Rogcr, one word"
He turned, and she gave cry of surprise,
1t was Luversan. The same carriage of the
head, the same height and build, same beard
and hair, but there ended the resemblance.
The eyes were hard, the nose larger, with
narrow nostrils, the forehead lower and the
eyebrows buslier.
VINO was this mani Clever sharp, with
out scruples, he began his career as employe
in a commercial house. They saw him about
the Louvre year. Then camo tho war and
he had disappeared He had drifted from
one army to the other, spying for French
and Germans alike, for whoever paid him
best, having one object in view-to get rich
and TO launch himself into n grand business
us soor us peace was declared.
During the days preceding the battle Of
culmiers, Rogers, then officer Of the commits
Bary, was following q road near the forest Of
Marchenoir, having been sent out with small
accommodating party, numbering about thirty
men, commanded by n lieutenant A peasant
ran toward them and told them that a guard
Of Prussian infantry, composed of some
twenty men, had just installed themselves at
q farm about two miles further on, and were
annoying the people. The lieutenant placed
full confidence In this man, but ROGER felt
that he was not sincere, and watching his
chance managed to get beside him, and, hold
ing cooked revolver in his hand, said:
"If | find you have deceived me will blow
your brains out"
The peasant, great broad shouldered,
dark complexioned nan, said nothing, but
looked at Roger as II he knew him. They
reached the farm and surrounded it. After
making slight show of resistance the Pms
sians laid down their arms, and the French
were so sure Of their victory that they were
thrown of their guard, when, like q sudden
burst Of flame, the cellars, the stables and
barns poured forth 200 men, who surrounded
the French in an instant. Roger furious,
looked for the peasant who had led them into
this trap In the confusion he had escaped,
but Rogers keen eyes found him out and he
sent pistol ball into the traitors left
shoulder, which, however, did 10 serious in
jury. Still it served to arouse n feeling of
revengeful rage, but Roger, after firing that
shot, managed to escape into the dense forest
of Marchenoir, and he at last reached his
command.
Three days later the German army, beaten,
had abandoned Orleans, and among the
stragglers who gathered around the French
army Roger saw the very man who had be-
trnyed his comrades He was dressed diff
ferently, had shaved off his mustache and
imperial, but all to no purpose, and Roger at
once seized upon him, and, in spite OF every
effort to escape, captured him and handed
him over TO the authorities. He was searched,
and large sum Of German and French
money was found concealed upon him, and
though be made the most strenuous efforts to
prove his innocence he was tried and con-
demned to be shot at daybreal1
His money was conhscated and he placed
under guard, but when morning came he
was gone. He had somehow surprised the
KRard aud strapRlaA him nnl dressed in the